The Columbia High School boys’ cross-country team poses after finishing fourth at the North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 Championships. From left are Justin Dyer, Ricky Hankey, Tim Depue, David Ives, Avery Coreschi, Jared Pangallozzi, and Jonathan Salinardo.
MORRIS PLAINS, NJ – The Columbia High School boys’ cross-country team finished fourth overall in the team standings at the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 Championships at Greystone Park in Morris Plains on Saturday, Nov. 5.
For the second straight year, the Cougars qualified for the Group 4 state championship race.
Jared Pangallozzi and David Ives led the way for the Cougars.
In a field of 118 runners, Pangallozzi, a senior, finished second overall in 15:53, just two seconds behind the winner, Ryan Martin, of Watchung Hills.
Ives, a junior, followed in fifth place.
These two impressive performances staked the Cougars to an early lead in the 16-team race, with the top five teams advancing to the state Group 4 Championship race.
Following Columbia’s fast start, perennial cross-country powers North Hunterdon and Westfield were able to quickly rally to finish first and second in the team race and the contest began for third place.
Columbia’s team average time of 16:39 per runner for the 5K (3.1 miles) was two seconds faster than Ridge. In the end, however, Ridge’s third through fifth runners were able to edge out Columbia for third place by a score of 85 to 94.
Closing out the scoring for Columbia were three juniors: Jonathan Salinardo, 24th; Tim Depue, 26th; and Avery Coreschi, 37th.
All seven members of the Columbia team received a medal commemorating their fourth-place finish and qualifying for the state Group 4 Championship race, which will be held at noon on Saturday, Nov. 12, at picturesque Holmdel Park in Holmdel. The Columbia cross-country team encourages the South Orange-Maplewood community, especially any aspiring runners, to take the short ride to Holmdel to support the team and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the state championship race.
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